https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022524.cfm
Be Loved – Reflection on the RE Congress Weekend Anaheim, Cal. 2024
Peace be with you, everyone. You may know that I was away for a couple of weeks. I was so happy to spend time with my brother and his family. The time went so fast. Especially last weekend when I was so blessed to attend a conference.
We heard terrific talks by authors and nationally known speakers. The following is a reflection on the effect the weekend had on me. It caught me by surprise, but what a grace. It was a real eye-opener. This is what I wrote last Monday morning. I am happy to share with you the effect the weekend had on me.
Sitting in the John Way Airport in California reminds me of the weekend I spent with four of my Rosminian brothers. We attended a Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, California. The theme of the conference was “Be loved.” Over 8 thousand people from 17 countries filled the Anaheim Convention Center Arena. The time went so fast, and I couldn’t believe I was packing for the airport.
I finally got a seat at the gate. How often have I looked at my watch to see how much time I had before boarding the plane? Then I looked at my Southwest ticket and got excited because I was in Group A, the first to get on board. I am the 50th passenger, but it still is group A. I was happy I would find room for my suitcase in the overhead.
I thought, “Rick, you are not living in the present moment (something I learned on the weekend). To top it off, you are in the future, only thinking of yourself. It’s like, ‘Who cares about the passengers in Group B, C, and D? How selfish can you be?’” I did some serious repenting.
I wonder how often I leave the present moment, the only moment I can encounter the love of God. The future and past moments are all present to God. He is eternal. Sure, he is present in all those moments I am waiting to board the airplane, but I am not. I felt sorry I left Him alone.
So, when I came back to be with the Lord in the present moment and embraced Him there, I saw a family with two children and noticed how the older sister, about 6 years old, was enjoying her younger brother while they lay on the floor playing with their cars. She took time to help him, and they laughed when he did a booboo. It isn’t so strange that I didn’t notice this when consumed with boarding the plane.
My heart smiled at them, and I thanked the Lord that those two kids were present to Him and each other more than I was a few moments ago. I left my coffee on the table next to my chair, and the dad said, “Hey, buddy. Do you want your coffee?” “You bet after I paid so much for it.”
A line I noted in one of the talks I heard: It’s not “what” we are doing that matters. It’s “who” we are with.
Like me, you may find yourself too busy with so many things and not with the people you care most about. Remember Martha in the kitchen, frustrated with her sister for not helping her? Mary got it right, just being with Jesus.
I encountered God’s love for me in those simple, ordinary moments at John Wayne Airport. I thanked the Lord for letting a little child bring me back to reality to be with Him. I pray you, too, will pause and Be Loved in the moment, whatever you are doing, whoever you are with.
Embrace the sacrament of this moment and be with the Lord. Do you know what’s beautiful? The present moment never leaves us. It doesn’t matter, even if you did something so horrible you don’t want to remember it. Remember what St. Faustina said Jesus told her, “The greater the sinner, the greater right they have to my mercy.”
Remember, the present moment never leaves us. Neither does the Lord. Stay with Him.
Peace be with you.
Love Your Neighbor:
Please join me in praying for all baptized Catholics to be faithful to Jesus in the Holy Mass every weekend. Hail Mary, full of grace…
Mother Mary, “I am yours now and forever. Through you and with you, I always want to belong completely to Jesus.” The Surrender Novena – InHeartland. https://inheartland.com/pages/the-surrender-novena
Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C.
